Monday, September 27, 2010

On Israeli 'moratorium,' U.S. has taken sides
by Josh Ruebner (National Advocacy Director)

"…Whether the talks persist or break down, one thing is clear: Palestinians paradoxically will still be expected to negotiate statehood with Israel while Israel … continues to gobble up the territory designated for a Palestinian state…"READ THE FULL ARTICLE...

"The University of Johannesburg has a chance to do the right thing, at a time when it is unsexy. I have time and time again said that we do not want to hurt the Jewish people gratuitously and, despite our deep responsibility to honour the memory of the Holocaust and to ensure it never happens again (to anyone), this must not allow us to turn a blind eye to the suffering of Palestinians today..."READ THE FULL ARTICLE...

Friday, September 24, 2010

The Israel Divestment Campaign, led by US Campaign Steering Committee Member Shakeel Syed, held a press conference to announce its "Divestment of State Retirement Funds From Israel Act" in California, which is the first BDS ballot measure in the US to target Israeli occupation at the state government level.

Phyllis Bennis (US Campaign Steering Committee member) writes on Huffpost about the President's speech to the UN General Assembly:
"So far, the Obama administration seems to be saying that 'no change' is the only change we can believe in when it comes to U.S. policy on Israel-Palestine ... [He] did say that Israel's partial settlement moratorium 'should' be extended, but carefully went on to urge that the talks 'press on until completed' with no linkage between the two goals. Not to mention that what he calls a 'moratorium' has consistently allowed continued building..."READ THE FULL ARTICLE...

German news outlet Der Spiegel Online has a good piece on the continuation of Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, throughout the official moratorium against that construction, which supposedly expires in just a few days. The article includes a photo gallery.

"In Washington, the Israelis and Palestinians are discussing peace, but in the Jewish settlements in the West Bank, construction is proceeding at full speed. A legal ban is being ignored and the government is looking away. The thousands of new homes could hinder reconciliation."

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Pro-divestment activists from the UMass faculty and student body brought their concerns to TIAA-CREF CEO Roger Ferguson as he delivered a convocation in September, 2010. Jewish Voice for Peace (a member group of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation) has launched a national campaign specifically at TIAA-CREF, to divest from several companies who are clearly profiting from Israeli occupation and apartheid. At TIAA-CREF, even its "socially responsible" line of investment products contains Caterpillar Corporation, one of the longest-standing targets of boycott-divestment activism against the destruction of Palestinian property and livelihood.

From the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (a member group of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation)...
"Endorsements by US academics and scholars recently crossed 500, and there are now 150 cultural workers who have also endorsed USACBI! This is a major victory for the growing academic and cultural boycott of Israel, and for the movement for justice and equality in Israel, as defenders of the status quo in Israel have repeatedly observed that the legitimacy of the state of Israel in the global court of public opinion is threatened by the boycott movement. There is a growing shift in the tide of public opinion in the U.S. which has only swelled in the wake of Israel’s massacre of international activists and relief workers on humanitarian aid flotilla’s off the coast of Gaza in international waters on May 31..."READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE...

From US Campaign member group Adalah-NY on Wednesday, 22 September:
"About 40 protesters gathered this evening to call upon New Yorkers to boycott the Israeli dance troupe Batsheva Dance Company during their performances at the Joyce Theater in Manhattan. Backed by the music of the radical marching band, Rude Mechanical Orchestra, demonstrators handed out programs to dancegoers and pedestrians explaining the reasons for the boycott. At least one dance patron heeded the call, giving his ticket to a protest organizer saying he was no longer comfortable seeing the performance."

Entries: THE SOUND OF PEACE: PALESTINIAN, ISRAELI & US ARTISTS PAINTING HOPEis an art exhibition that asks participants to come together in a single voice expressing peace through paintings and sculptures. The opening is Sunday October 24th at 6 PM. Selected artists should be available on Sunday, October 24th to speak about their chosen artwork. Artists must also be available on Monday, October 18th and Tuesday, October 19th to transport and install their work at the gallery. Chosen artists will be notified of specific installation times. All artwork must be framed and presentable. Sculptures no larger than 4’ x 2’ will be accepted. All artwork will be for sale with prices determined by the artist with 60% going to the artist and 40% to the gallery to cover administrative costs, promotions, processing of payments, exhibit management, and other costs and expenses. The show will run through December 12th, 2010. During the show running time, the gallery will offer a series of events, including musical performances, lectures and discussions to stimulate the imagination and advance the cause of peace.

Applicants, please provide a zip file with the following information:

- Country you are representing

- Jpeg images of each peace you are submitting for consideration (max 5 images)

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

The US Campaign has endorsed an exciting petition at Jewish Voice for Peace (a US Campaign member organization), pushing US financial services giant TIAA-CREF toward divestment from companies involved in Israel's theft of land and abuse of human rights. Check out JVP's campaign page, sign the petition and get resources to join this promising effort!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

As President Barack Obama, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gather for a White House dinner on the eve of the resumption of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, please join the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation for a silent vigil in support of a just peace between Palestinians and Israelis based on human rights, international law, and UN resolutions.
Meet us on the north side of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, across the street from Lafayette Park from 6-8 PM. We will have signs available.
During the silent vigil, we will present a petition to the White House with thousands of signatures. The petition reads:
"Dear President Obama,
As your Administration reconvenes direct Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations on September 2, I urge you to make sure that they are based on human rights, international law, and UN resolutions--the only viable basis for a just and lasting peace."
If you can't attend, you can sign the petition!

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